Five Star for life!

Justin is currently on a big campaign to raise funds for the 2008-2009 school year for the Five Star programs. It is very exciting, but also very time comsuming. I am thankful he loves what he does and he has never ending passion for it. Today he is traveling through our neighborhood putting a "neighborhood team" together for the "Change our World" event. Yes, it is Labor Day Weekend. The event is November 8th. He is having so much fun! I made a pot of Chili. The sun is shining! The beach is callling my name. Ah, the final days of summer.

Miah enjoying the camera

I included these shots for the grand-parents! Miah has her own style, each day is a little different, but basically she is as girlie as possible, very princess-like, and with as many accessories as possible.

My Job

I don't often blog about my job, but lately I just am so filled with thankfulness for my job. It is so perfect for me. I really can't believe I get paid to do what I do. My schedule changes about every 3 or 4 months, which I like! I like little adjustments in my schedule and having some new times means new people in my classes. Anyways, this past schedule change is the best yet, (for me anyways). My favorite classes to teach are "Peak Pump" (which is strength training), and "Cycling" (enough said). I also teach "Pilates" and "Circuit Training". It's all good! The people are great! I love the atmosphere! And I have great bosses!

So if you've been thinking about joining a gym in the Granger area, come check out "Peak Fast", it's right behind 1st Source Bank off of Bittersweet Rd and SR 23. It is a very family friendly gym, and no one is there trying to impress everyone else. It's a bunch of normal people trying to live a healthy lifestyle. They also have childcare in the morning and in the evenings. And if your looking for personal training, Marla Peak (owner) is AWESOME! She is really amazing and I would recommend her to anyone!

So, just wanted to share how thankful I am for my little job. As you know my big job is being a mom and wife, which I am thankful for as well. I feel very blessed to be able to stay home with my children. My job as a group fitness instructor is only 5-7 hours a week, so it works out perfect! God is so good!

Pretty Crazy STUFF

Cameron and Jalen have birthdays coming up here in the next month and a half. So I have been collecting ideas of things they might like. But before I went shopping, I thought I would ask them if they had any ideas of things they might like......

This is what they said, with big bright eyes!!

Jalen, "Remote control thing that flys, from the dollar store" "water gun, big one with ice and water that shoots out" "star wars dress up thing" "batman action figures set, joker, penguin" "motorcycle to ride outside that is battery driven" "ninja turtle dress up suit" "batmobile that motorcyles fly off of" "light saber - red" "leapster to play games on" "black batman t-shirt" "batman pajamas"

Cameron, "ipod" "Batmobile that shoots out motorcycles and top goes up and makes a noise" "New Heeley's, mine are too small" "light saber" "leapster" " leapster games - Cars, Batman, Spongebob, Spiderman" "t-shirts-superman, spiderman and lego-batman" "for Christmas or some other big holiday, a Dirt Bike, one that takes gas and goes 4 or 5 mph)" "dog, either a poodle or a boxer or bull dog (not just for me though, for the whole family)"


It was fun to watch their little eyes light up as they talked about these little things they dreamed of. It reminded me of being a kid and wishing for special treasures on my birthday or christmas.

My new nephew

Elijah Blaze Maust was born on August 15, 2008. Son #3 for Seth and Sarah. Everyone is doing well and healthy. God Bless Seth, Sarah, Koby, Jordan and baby Elijah! We love you!

Cameron's Wall Decorations

I thought this was pretty cool. Cameron puts his favorite pictures of "super hero's" on his wall. Today in the basement he found some large sports photo's of Justin from high-school days. Cameron asked to have the photo's and taped his favorite one on his wall right between spiderman and batman.

1st Day of HomeSchool for Miah

no words needed....

My blog address is: www.jennymaust.blogspot.com

Whoo-hoo!

You may be surprised, (based on my last few posts), but things are going really well here! We made it through this first week of school and all is good!

I am thankful for the peace God has given me in the midst of stressful circumstances. It reminds me that peace is not really peace if there is not stress. When everything is going perfect and there is no problems at all, does that mean there is peace? A book I read once said that peace is something inside us that is not dependant on what is going on around us.

So much to be thankful for:
1. Awesome family
2. Great Church
3. Great Friends, neighbors, school
4. Great Jobs for both of us

Most Stressful day ever...

I really think today was it. I did not think I would feel this way, but starting school is hard.
Our whole family is transitioning from the small christian montessorri school to the big public school. Lots of PROS and CONS, but anytime there is change it can be tough on the little ones (and me too).
The mornings are early (and it doesn't help that I couldn't sleep last night). All the paperwork is crazy and confusing, and all the secret codes and bus #'s and special dates and times to remember. Wow! I use to think I was an organized person, but this is taking me to a whole new level. I keep telliing myself, it'll get easier, but I remember thinking that 3 years ago!

Cameron is in 1st and we decided to keep Jalen in Kindergarten, so he starts school tomorrow. He is not too excited because he is in 1/2 day kindergarten which means--
1. No recess
2. No lunch
3. No P.E. class

But, on one positive note... I started "home school montessorri style" today and it was awesome! I re-did the basement into a classroom, and I have a lot to do yet, but for Day #1 it was great.

One more positive.. I really like Cameron and Jalen's teachers. We got some good ones!!!! (Now I know there all good, but we really got the best ones!!) Thank you God!

Comments??????

For some reason, I seem to NEVER get comments on my blog.... so I wonder is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? If you would be so bold as to say Hello by leaving me a comment that would be way cool!! I would totally be excited!

lots going on........

First of all, I don't know how my blog picture got so big, I was trying to adjust some things last week, and the only thing that changed was the size of my family picture, so not sure about that. Yes, it has been awhile... the past week has been consuming. School starts on Wednesday, and we are ready, I think! It will be early mornings, which does not sound fun, but I think it'll be alright after the first couple weeks. The boys love there new school clothes and are begging to ride the school bus. (not sure about that yet).

Also some good things going on with Five Star. Justin is extremely busy and never enough time in the day, but good things are happening.

Miah is growing and maturing more and more each day. I am planning on home-schooling her with some things I learned at our time at the montessorri school. I am very excited about it. (Maybe some christian pre-school as well).

Jalen is probably going into 1st grade. He will be on the young end, but we feel like he is ready and we think he will excell with the challenge.

School starts Wednesday! I am nervous and anxious, excited yet scared. This feels so real and so very different than the past few years. Maybe it is that the boys are older and in real grades instead of pre-school, and also that they are going to a public school. I am totally fine with public schools, Justin and I both loved school and turned out okay thru the public school system, (well I guess that is matter of opinion). But, It is just a BIG school and so very different than the montessorri school.

Change is good! That's what we are learning about at church, and I have to agree. I do like change.

Here's a quote Justin told me this weekend. He really likes it and so do I.

"Nations rise in rough boots, and decline in carpet slippers." Chinese Proverb

"Life is Hard, and then you die"

Kind of a funny, depressing, odd quote. When someone says it you wonder if you should laugh or cry. Our pastor said it at the end of a message a few weeks ago. We kinda laughed, but we also realized that he's right. Now there are season's of life where everything is great and life seems easy. But we all have days, weeks or season's where life is just really hard.

One thing that really helps during those times is having good friends that you can just be honest with. Friends who you can say everything to and they won't judge you and they won't even try to fix everything. Often we just need someone to listen. It helps to just "get it all out".

I don't know if life is intended to be easy. I think we learn and grow through struggles. Sometimes we want to just run. Leave, Go, Move, Flee from "the problem". But is that really the answer? It always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but I truly believe that there are still weeds and moles on the other side of the fence also.

So Life may be hard, but hey, what else to we have to do?

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died- more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 28-39